Monday, January 5, 2009

Its the end of Tribune as we know it

Today is the first Monday without the paper edition of the East Valley Tribune. They tried to put on a happy face, explaining the "exciting journey" that they are undertaking with their 4 days a week tabloid. From now on, those outside of Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert and Queen Creek will no longer get the Trib at all. Those who will still get the paper won't see it on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Thursdays.

Tip to newsmakers, if you want to keep something quiet, announce it on Saturday - or late Friday. You know they already have the Sunday paper planned out, so, you can ride the tide until Wednesday before the masses will really hear about it. Of course, you'll catch hell from the same five commenters who comment on all of the online articles.

Its true that the news industry is changing and they are going to have to find a way to do more with less. I think that bloggers can help pick up the slack, but I have to be honest that I don't have the time to go to very many city council meetings or attend a forum where someone may or may not say something newsbreaking.

Now that the Tribune is going to focus more on the web, I do have a few thoughts on their website:

- Get rid of the flash story headlines - you can't view them in a new window if you want, and there isn't enough variety.

- Find a little consistency with font and text size - you are literally all over the map and it makes it hard to keep my eyes focused.

- Move the videos and slide shows to the bottom - you have a very almost google news type section of stories that people rarely get to because they get mired in all of the videos. Focus on your core deliverables, which I don't think is producing amateur news videos. Partner with a news station if you want that to be your focus.

- Allow other blogs to be part of your roll - I don't want to sign up for your blog softeware and set up another account. I already have this one.

Anyway, it will be interesting over the next week or so to get the reaction to the new Tribune. Times change, and trains gave way to planes, and VHS gave way to DVD which are giving way to BluRay, its just not clear to me who the successor will be for the newspaper.